Does the knot from a whip finish lock tightly? Or should the thread still be able to unwind if you unwrap it? I'm not sure if I'm doing something wrong or that is just how it is? I've watched at least a dozen videos and no one mentions anything about that. I'm guessing it should lock and I'm still doing something wrong?

the only reason it would unwind is if you wrap the thread from the 'whips' where they dont cover the tag (bobbin) end of the thread.

Think of it like this - take your bobbin in your non tying hand, get your whip finish tool and form the first loop over the hook, now hold the bobbin taught at, and towrad the back of the hook, take 4-5 more wraps back toward the back of the hook over the thread from which is coming out of the bobbin - these over wraps are what lock the thread in place.If you go the other way, not wrapping over the tag (bobbin) end of the thread, the whip finish will just unravel.

eunanhendron wrote:the only reason it would unwind is if you wrap the thread from the 'whips' where they dont cover the tag (bobbin) end of the thread.

Think of it like this - take your bobbin in your non tying hand, get your whip finish tool and form the first loop over the hook, now hold the bobbin taught at, and towrad the back of the hook, take 4-5 more wraps back toward the back of the hook over the thread from which is coming out of the bobbin - these over wraps are what lock the thread in place.If you go the other way, not wrapping over the tag (bobbin) end of the thread, the whip finish will just unravel.

Eunan

EEE gads! I went on-line to find a good instructional video done by the "experts" and found nearly all of them were whipping backwards! I thought everything posted on the Interweb was right!..especially expert "howto" youtube videos!

phiend, read eunanhendron's directions above. Whip over/towards the tag, that's from the eye towards the bend, and you whip finish will lock and never unwrap.